One of the many duties of the Department of Housing and Urban Development is to foster affordable housing in the nation's urban areas. During debate on the 2004 VA-HUD appropriations bill-a measure to provide funding for veterans' programs, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), NASA, the EPA, and other federal programs and independent agencies-Congressman Nadler (D-NY) offered an amendment to increase the amount of funding in HUD's budget for low-income housing vouchers by $150 million (bringing the total allocation for the voucher program to $12.3 billion). Progressives endorsed Nadler's proposal as a way to help low-income families afford a home and also to prevent families from being forced out of their community due to rising rent prices. Twenty-four Republicans joined a solid majority of Democrats in supporting Nadler's amendment and the measure was adopted on a 217-208 vote.